Re: Damaged Video & Copyright

Steve: This doesn't seem like a copyright question to me. There's
nothing in the copyright law that says you cannot repair a videotape you
have purchased. I would, however, inquire about replacing the tape
first. That would be the best solution. You seem to suggest that they
will give you credit on a replacement copy that you might want later. I
would go ahead and try to replace the tape now. The splice will weaken
the tape and increase the probability that the tape will be completely
ruined sometime soon. But if you want to try splicing the tape now, that
shouldn't affect your discussions with the distributor later.

Kristine Brancolini
Indiana University Libraries
brancoli@indiana.edu

On Tue, 28 May 1996, Steve Cassel -SLO wrote:

> My library has a video (priced over $700), that in the > course of circulation, has become damaged. The damage is in > the first two minutes of the video, the rest of the title is > undamaged. I am uncertain, due to copyright laws, if I can > perform a minor splicing repair. What about the legality > questions, if a repair was made, with the spine label of the > videocassette having been cut in two, and then requesting a > trade-in of a damaged video? The distributor of this video> places graphics on the beginning of the video, registering> the copy to my library, and they seem to take a very narrow> view to any variations in the copyright laws.> So... can a repair be made and might there be a problem> with a trade-in if, the videocassette had been repaired and> additional damage occured at a later time?> > Thanks,> > Steven Cassel> >